Hornets stung by pacy O'Hare

Apr 15 2002 By Chris Roberts, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Rochdale 10 - 30 Giants. WHETHER on the wing or at full-back, Hefin O'Hare is proving a destructive force for the Giants as they continue to sweep all before them in the NFP and Buddies Cup.

Once again the flying Welshman's pace punished the opposition to the full as brave Rochdale were undone by O'Hare's wizardry.

Two dazzling tries, one almost unstoppable charge to the line to set up Matthew Whittaker and numerous pressure-relieving breaks from deep were the vital statistics for the 22-year-old.

And all of these were achieved as a makeshift full-back!

The knee injury to Ben Cooper and the late decision not to risk Paul Reilly's fractured finger meant O'Hare was the obvious choice to occupy the No1 shirt.

He had looked solid in the position against Oldham after switching to full-back following Cooper's injury last week.

But his impact against the Hornets was even greater.

This contest proved far more demanding than the Oldham clash, and it needed someone with the pace of O'Hare to shatter the home side's solid resistance.

Even without seven or eight of Rochdale's senior players, the Lancastrians produced a performance which was in a totally different class to that given at the McAlpine a month ago.

It was obvious from the opening exchanges there was going to be no repeat of the 58-4 NFP thrashing.